Due to Covid-19, this is the first year, in decades, troops overseas and in the U.S. will not be entertained during the holidays. Armed Forces Entertainment teamed up with Runaway June to change that and organized a virtual concert dedicated to deployed service men and women. The concert was filmed before a live audience for families of Tennessee National Guard and 5th Special Forces Group at the Ray Stevens CabaRay Showroom. A special treat at the end of the concert features children from the military audience on stage singing “Jingle Bells” with Runaway June.
“When I Think About Christmas” is an original virtual concert available Friday, December 11th, 2020 through Saturday, January 2, 2021 exclusively on the Armed Forces Entertainment YouTube Channel.
Armed Forces Entertainment reached out to Judy Seale, President/CEO of Judy Seale International/Stars for Stripes, to produce the event. “I’ve supported and worked with AFE since the early 90’s. They are such a wonderful organization and because of my association with them and similar organizations, I’ve had the honor of escorting more than 150 tours to military bases overseas. For someone like me who has been blessed to spend so many holidays at foreign military bases, it is heartbreaking knowing because of COVID restrictions, this might be the first time since Bob Hope began performing for the military deployed overseas that entertainers will be unable to visit military bases over the holidays. Those visits have always provided much needed morale boosts by personally showing support and appreciation to the men and women at the bases we visited. We are hoping this virtual concert expresses the love and appreciation those of us back home want to convey to our service members,” Seale said.
Runaway June delivers heart-warming renditions of new and classic Christmas songs including “Let It Snow,” “O Holy Night,” and “Sleigh Ride,” as well as songs from their new EP including the title song “When I Think About Christmas” and “Christmas on the Radio.” Viewers will also be treated to performances of their first hit single “I Can Buy My Own Drinks” and their current chart single, “We Were Rich” as well as other Runway June favorites including “Wild West” and “Lipstick.”
About Armed Forces Entertainment:
AFE is the official Department of Defense agency that provides quality entertainment to U.S. military personnel serving overseas, primarily at contingency operations and in remote and isolated locations. Founded in 1951, we bring a touch of home through music, sports and comedy entertainment to more than 400,000 troops annually, providing our dedicated military much-needed downtime. All while creating experiences as rewarding for the entertainers as it is for the service members. For more information visit armedforcesentertainement.com, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter or YouTube.
About Runaway June:
Lauded by Billboard as the “Next Hot Trend in Country Music” and likened to The Chicks for a new generation,’ Runaway June’s organic three-part harmonies and ringing strings have established them as a top new group with its “inescapable talent” (AXS.com). The BBR Music Group/Wheelhouse Records act is comprised of the vocal stylings and musicianship of Naomi Cooke (lead vocals; guitar); Natalie Stovall (vocals; fiddle/guitar); and Jennifer Wayne (vocals; guitar). The trio is receiving rave critical notices from the likes of Billboard, Rolling Stone Country, The Huffington Post, People and dubbed by CMT as “Next Women of Country.” It has also appeared on national TV including the CMA Awards, ACM Awards, CMT Awards, TODAY, and GMA. They also will be part of the renowned Luke Bryan’s Proud To Be Right Hear tour in 2021 touring across the U.S. The trio has been celebrated for its brand of organic and melodic Country music. It is the first all-female trio in over sixteen years to score a top five hit at Country radio. The band also has scored nods from the industry with nominations at the 2019 CMT Awards and at the 2019 ACM’s for New Vocal Duo or Group of The Year. Runaway June was also selected for CRS New Faces Class of 2020. Its debut album, Blue Roses was released last year making Rolling Stone’s and Paste Magazine’s end of year lists as one of the best Country and Americana albums of 2019. Its newest single “We Were Rich” is at Country radio now and their first Christmas EP, When I Think About Christmas, is out now! For more information, visit:
RunawayJune.com.
